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Exciting new changes to the council's concessionary travel
scheme will mean that anyone over the age of 60 or disabled
will be able to travel for free on local buses from April
next year.
The new scheme was agreed by the council's cabinet recently
and replaces a similar system offering elderly and disabled
people half price travel on local bus services. Applications
for the new scheme will not be available until February
and will be publicised nearer the time of introduction.
Councillor Jeremy Heron, portfolio holder for economy
and planning said: "In the New Forest we are traditionally
much more generous than the statutory minimum when it comes
to concessionary travel for pensioners and the disabled
and this new scheme is no exception.
We are offering all-day free travel on bus journeys starting
or finishing within our area. Those who quality for
these passes will be able to take journeys into Southampton,
Wiltshire or Dorset if they choose. The scheme will
also include the Hythe Ferry, which is a highly popular
route into the city of Southampton.
We have decided to continue with our wholly discretionary
scheme of replacing bus passes for travel tokens, with
a few changes. This scheme will now only be available
to pensioners over the age of 60 in receipt of certain
benefits or those who are disabled or have mobility difficulties. We
recognise the fact that this scheme is very popular, particularly
with those living in rural areas. Tokens will be
replaced with vouchers with the introduction of the scheme."
Details of the new schemes are as follows:
- All day free travel on local buses or the Hythe Ferry,
starting or finishing within the New Forest District
Council boundary for anyone over 60 years or disabled.
This is beyond the national statutory requirement to
provide free off-peak travel within the district boundary
on local bus services.
- A means tested scheme which is wholly discretionary
and only available to those over 60 and in receipt of
certain benefits or to people of any age who are disabled. This
scheme enables these residents to cash in their free
bus pass for £40 worth of travel vouchers, for
use on services such as WRVS Rural Transport, Dial-a-Ride
services, Luncheon Club mini-buses and taxis registered
by the council. Those over 80 years who are not
in receipt of certain benefits will no longer qualify
for tokens.
Councillor Heron added: "This is a terrific new opportunity
but I want to urge people to hold on with applications
at the present time. The council will not be accepting
applications until February but we are currently in discussion
with local bus companies and it is likely that existing
valid half fare passes will enable people to travel for
free for an initial period of time."
About 10,000 people currently hold a half price pass for
the buses but it is thought that up to 20,000 are eligible
to apply. It is anticipated that more people are
likely to take advantage of the new schemes, following
the introduction of free travel on buses for the over 60s. |
